School journey
It all started in 1967 when I was in my last year of primary school.
Each year, the school organised a school journey for pupils in the senior class, just before they left for secondary school. This journey was paid for in installments by the parents over the school year which, when considering I was the eldest of five, must have been quite difficult for my parents but for which I thank them immensely!
This year, the trip was to the Isle of Man. As always, all pupils going on a school journey were required to complete a project about the destination. Various contacts with the IOM tourist board were made (by the school, I believe) and supplies of leaflets arrived.
Like all the other pupils, I had completed my project, swotting up on all the areas shown in the timetable, which had been arranged in advance by the school.
From memory, we were to stay in a hotel in Ramsey, overlooking Mooragh park but I cannot remember the name. Trips were arranged to Castle Rushen, Laxey wheel, Point of Ayre lighthouse & Mooragh park boating lake amongst others which have sadly been forgotten over the years (but probably included Peel castle, ...).
As the day approached, my Mum washed, ironed & packed the necessary clothes and bought special things which I didn't appreciate at the time such as toiletry bags, after all, being the eldest, I was the first to go on a school journey and she obviously wanted me to enjoy myself.
On the Friday before leaving, all pupils were examined by the school doctor to ensure they were fit enough for the trip.
When I was examined, I was devastated to be told I couldn't go because I had bronchitis!.
I couldn't believe it and insisted we asked our own doctor, Dr. Shaw in Eversholt street, who unfortunately agreed with the school doctor. I went home pretty unhappy (?) while all the other kids prepared to leave early on Saturday morning.
Thanks are due here to my aunt & uncle, Vera & Des, who offered to take me on holiday with them & their children, my cousins Steven, David & Tony, at Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey - not quite the same as the Isle of Man but an island nevertheless!. That holiday was memorable for a couple of reasons: It was the first time I went 'cockle-ing' and ate any form of seafood and I was taken to the doctors at the site after I developed a rash under my arms to be told I suffered from Ecxzma.
It was also the first time I remember sitting in a Holiday-camp hall drinking pepsi (or Coke, the distinction wasn't obvious in those days).
I don't remember how those days passed at school or even if I was at school during this period (thinking about it, I probably wasn't as all the teachers must have been on holiday - in the Isle of Man!). I seem to recall a date of 25th May but that would have been the start of TT practise week & I don't think a school would arrange a trip during this time - that would be a real nightmare!
After the party returned, the only thing that sticks in my mind was an argument with my 'best-friend' at the time, Terry McCarthy, about how the time was told using the clock at Castle Rushen in Castletown. This clock only has a single hand which indicates the hour; the minutes are estimated from the position between the two hours but Terry told me I was an hour out i.e. the hand was between 10 & 11 so I estimated the time at about 10:20. Terry told me it was 11:20 - "that was how you read it. I was there...". Looking back, this was a pretty harsh way of telling me I hadn't gone on the trip but school children are not known for their subtlety.